For immediate release   

Waking Eyes plays Hong Kong's Cavern Club in LKF to standing room only "Music Matters" industry crowd

Hong Kong, (June 4, 2009) Winnipeg's Waking Eyes, managed by Coalition Entertainment, was the highlight of the night for the wall-to-wall crowd in Hong Kong's coolest downtown entertainment district Lan Kwai Fong. LKF attracts the young and hip in Hong Kong, which has clearly become the centre of the Asia-Pacific entertainment industry over the past few years.

Winnipeg's Waking Eyes – (l-r) Matt Peters, Steve Senkiw, Joey Penner, Rusty Matyas - play the Cavern in Hong Kong's LKF district

The Waking Eyes showcase was presented by Canadian Music Week and CIRPA, with assistance from DFAIT and other government partners. It was the entertainment highlight of the evening as the Music Matters delegates flocked to the venue to catch this great Canadian indie act and to support local talent.

Music Matters, now in its fourth year, brings together 500 industry professionals from Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Thailand, Taiwan, India, the United States, Britain and Canada (and many more we haven't met yet or counted)! One of the largest music markets in the world, the music industry here delivers its products through an emerging mobility and digital market worth billions at retail for channel operators. The key to survival for music companies in this region will be the ability to manage these revenues to pay creators, an issue waiting to be resolved here as it is in many other parts of the world.

This event provided a unique first-hand opportunity to hear from local experts on two days of panels. Industry insiders from all sectors discussed the key issues faced by foreign artists wishing to participate in this market, through their labels, publishers or management. It brings the attendee to earth quickly as the reality of the Asian marketplace is vividly presented and addresses the misconceptions about opportunities and challenges.

Whatever the platform or channel, the consensus was that it is even more the case today that artists must promote themselves and their music. Band showcases build reputations with key professionals and fans. This is as much the case in Asia as anywhere but particularly the case for indies who focus on grassroots audiences.

Whatever your business, Music Matters covers the ground, and has the potential to become the singular music business conference in the region. Highly recommended.

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For further information contact:
Duncan McKie, President & CEO, CIRPA
416-485-3152 ext. 232
duncan@cirpa.ca
www.cirpa.ca